One of the most important phases of a woman’s life is when she’s pregnant and ready to bring another life into the world. However, there are cases where some women decide to get a tubal ligation surgery done wherein the fallopian tubes are tied together to prevent the woman from getting pregnant.

If you’re someone who has undergone the tubal ligation process, then that does not mean you cannot get pregnant again. There is a procedure known as the ‘tubal ligation reversal’ process wherein you can untie the tubes and stand a chance of getting pregnant once again.

What is Tubal Ligation Reversal?

In the Tubal ligation reversal process, a surgeon will untie, reopen or reconnect the fallopian tubes so that you can stand a chance of having a baby once again. The process involves medical consultation with a doctor. Based on whether it is medically safe for you to go ahead with the procedure, the doctor will give his opinion and you can then take an informed decision.

Why is Tubal Reversal Done?

The process is generally done by women who have had their tubes tied, in a procedure known as the postpartum tubal ligation. This is done in order to be able to conceive again.

Who Can Have Tubal Reversal Surgery?

The tubal ligation surgery can be undergone by anyone and doctors recommend the procedure for those women who are below 40 years. This procedure can be carried out for women who have had the ligation done right after childbirth and the procedure will enable them to once again untie the tubes.

Also, there are a lot of factors that doctors take into consideration when they carry on with the procedure. These include:

The age and BMI of the person involved

The type of tubal ligation that you want to undergo

Any damage that has been present in your fallopian tubes prior to the surgery

The remaining length of the tube

Factors such as fertility and egg quality and sperm count

Based on these factors, the doctor can help you make an informed decision as to whether you should carry on with the surgery or not. Once they provide the go-ahead, there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for the same.

What If You Are Not a Candidate for Tubal Reversal?

If you’re not a candidate for the procedure, the doctor will inform you. It is a very sensitive surgery and if you’re not eligible for the same, you can stand the chance of harming your health and the doctor will not allow the procedure to continue.

The success of the procedure is higher if you’ve had a procedure earlier with the help of rings or clips instead of having the fallopian tubes burned off (Electrocautery).

How to Prepare for the Procedure?

To prepare for the procedure, the doctor will keep you informed regarding the different details. He will also tell you the likelihood of you getting pregnant after the surgery and discuss other general terms of pregnancy such as IVF.

There will be a physical checkup to confirm whether it is safe for you to proceed with getting the surgery done. Also, you may undergo certain blood and imaging tests as well. There is a particular test known as the Hysterosalpingogram that will help in knowing the functioning and lengths of your fallopian tubes. The test can be conducted with the help of X-rays and dyes.

Your partner might also have to undergo certain tests such as the sperm count test and semen analysis to rule out any fertility issues.

How is Tubal Ligation Reversal Surgery Done?

The tubal reversal procedureis done with the help of robotic or laparoscopic equipment for the surgery. The tiny cameras will help the doctor conduct the surgery in a safe and secure manner and he will make a small incision on your stomach.

Once the incision is made, the doctor will proceed to expose the uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovaries. He will then remove the fragmented sections of the fallopian tube and go ahead and attempt to repair the tube with stitches, if possible.

If too much of the tubes were removed during the initial ligation surgery, the doctor will not be able to reattach the fallopian tube once again.

Risks and Complications of the Surgery

As with any surgery, there are a few risks involved and you must be prepared for the same. Some of these complications involve:

Not being able to get pregnant once the procedure is done. There are multiple factors governing the success of this surgery and a 100% success rate cannot be guaranteed.

Bleeding.

Infection.

The probability of the fallopian tubes getting scarred.

Other organs getting injured during the surgery.

Anaesthesia complications.

An ectopic pregnancy where the egg is implanted outside the uterus which means that it will need to be aborted.

What About the Recovery After a Tubal Reversal?

Once the tubal reversal procedure is done, you will feel a little numbness and discomfort in your abdomen area but that is completely normal at this stage. After a couple of weeks, you can resume your normal activities and the stitches should dissolve by then.

You can have a follow-up appointment with the doctor to confirm the same and once he is okay with it, you can carry on with your normal activities. Painkillers can be prescribed for any pain you face after the surgery.

What is the Success Rate of Tubal Ligation Reversal?

The success rate of the procedure greatly depends on a number of factors such as the age of the woman, and the type of ligation procedure that was done initially.

The chances of hitting pregnancy after tubal reversal are higher if the woman is below the age of 35. Alternative options such as In-vitro fertilization (IVF) can be considered for conceiving a child.

There are also certain outpatient surgeries that can be done in order to increase the chances of getting pregnant by around 90%. You can talk to your doctor regarding the same and get it done.

What Are the Alternatives to Tubal Ligation Reversal?

If you want to know how to get pregnant after tubal ligation without reversal, you can consider alternatives such as IVF. In the IVF procedure, the eggs and the sperm are fertilized outside the body of the two parents. Once they do so, the fertilized egg is then placed back into the womb of the mother’s uterus and she can carry on with the procedure as normal.

It is important to go through every procedure and alternative with an open mind before making a decision. You will be able to breathe easy knowing that most of the tubal ligation reversal procedures are successful but at the same time, you have to consider other options so as to not get disappointed.

How Much Does Tubal Reversal Surgery Cost In India?

The tubal reversal procedure costs differ based on the complexity of the surgery involved and the type of clinic that you go to. General costing for the surgery is anywhere around Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 5 Lakhs.

Thus, the tubal ligation reversal surgery can be a topic of discussion which can bring up a bit of tension in your family. If you’re sure that you want to go ahead with the procedure, ensure that you’re able to feel at ease with the whole idea. Ultimately, it is your life and the decisions that you take should not impact others.

Make sure you and your partners read about the precautions behind the procedure so that you are well informed regarding the procedure. Doctors will be able to guide you and perform the operation, but it of prime importance that you take all factors into consideration and not go through with the procedure just because you wish to have a baby once again.

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